Woman files FIR against Odisha Godman Sarathi Baba over missing son

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Malkangiri, Aug 12:

Police have begun investigation into the complaints of a woman that her son is missing since last two years after he visited controversial Godman Srimad Sarathi Dev’s ashram at Barimula on the outskirts of Odisha’s Kendrapara town.

The complainant, Suraiya—the mother of the missing man—filed an FIR with the Malkangiri police station yesterday that her son—Bala Raju– is untraceable since he visited the ashram about two years ago.

“We have received the FIR and begun investigation into it. A case will be registered after the investigation is complete,” Malkangiri police IIC Rajkishore Das said.

In 2013, Raju’s family members had filed a missing complaint with the local police but no tangible action was allegedly taken by them.

As per the FIR filed by Suraiya, her son—Balaraju—had gone to Sarathi Baba’s ashram in Kendrapara in April 2012 and stayed there for five days. He was in touch with his family through phone during his stay at the ashram. After a few days, he stopped calling his family following which a worried Suraiya went to the ashram to enquire about her son.

She was told to contact a resident of Khairput who had information about Balaraju. When she reached Khairput to know about the whereabouts of her son, she was told that he has gone somewhere.

Getting no clue about her son, Suraiya filed a missing complaint with Malkangiri police on April 26, 2013. Though police accepted the complaint, it did not register a case then.

The mysterious disappearance of Bala Raju has fuelled speculations in the town.

Bala Raju was working for two chit fund companies. After the mega scam was busted, the duped investors were asking him to repay the invested money. He had gone to Sarathi’ ashram to seek his help to bail him out of the crisis to escape the ire of the chit fund investors, sources said.

Even on social networking site Facebook, Bala Raju had posted messages seeking Sarathi’s blessings to get him out of the trouble, sources added.